Distributed virtual switch for virtualized computer systems

Abstract

A runtime state of a virtual port associated with a virtual machine (“VM”) is persisted as the VM is migrated from a source host to a destination host. In certain embodiments, a virtual switch forwards network frames between the VM and the physical network interface via the virtual port. During migration of the VM, the runtime state of the virtual port is transferred to the destination host and applied at the second host to a virtual port associated with a second virtual switch at the destination host. The runtime state of the virtual port at the source host is then cleared, and the second virtual switch at the destination host forwards network frames between the migrated VM and the physical network interface of the destination host using the virtual port at the second host.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for managing distributed switches and distributed ports comprising:
 at an electronic device: 
 storing a state information associated with a distributed virtual switch (DV switch) or a distributed virtual port (DV port); 
 transmitting the state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port to one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for local storage; and 
 polling a local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for changes to corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, updating the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port stored on the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polling is periodic. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polling is performed in response to at least one or more events. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one or more events include impending virtual machine migrations, virtual machine suspensions, and host power events associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, transmitting the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port from the electronic device to the local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the state information associated with a distributed virtual switch or a distributed virtual port includes a runtime state and configuration settings for a communication link between a virtual machine and virtual switch. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more hosts are configured to use the transmitted state data to maintain a state of a VM connected to the DVPort or DV switch when the VM is migrated to a DV Port or DV Switch of one of the one or more hosts. 
     
     
       9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 storing a state information associated with a distributed virtual switch (DV switch) or a distributed virtual port (DV port); 
 transmitting the state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port to one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for local storage; and 
 polling a local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for changes to corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
     
     
       10. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, updating the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port stored on the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       11. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the polling is periodic. 
     
     
       12. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the polling is performed in response to at least one or more events. 
     
     
       13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one or more events include impending virtual machine migrations, virtual machine suspensions, and host power events associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port. 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, transmitting the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port from the electronic device to the local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the state information associated with a distributed virtual switch or a distributed virtual port includes a runtime state and configuration settings for a communication link between a virtual machine and virtual switch. 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, transmitting the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port from the electronic device to the local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more hosts are configured to use the transmitted state data to maintain a state of a VM connected to the DVPort or DV switch when the VM is migrated to a DV Port or DV Switch of one of the one or more hosts. 
     
     
       18. An electronic device comprising:
 one or more processors; and 
 memory comprising one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors of the electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:
 storing a state information associated with a distributed virtual switch (DV switch) or a distributed virtual port (DV port); 
 transmitting the state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port to one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for local storage; and 
 polling a local storage of the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port for changes to corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port. 
 
 
     
     
       19. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more programs further include instructions for:
 in response to detecting changes to the corresponding state information associated with the DV switch or the DV port on the one or more hosts associated with the DV switch or the DV port, updating the state information associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port stored on the electronic device. 
 
     
     
       20. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the polling is periodic. 
     
     
       21. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the polling is performed in response to at least one or more events. 
     
     
       22. The electronic device of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one or more events include impending virtual machine migrations, virtual machine suspensions, and host power events associated with the distributed switch or the distributed port. 
     
     
       23. The electronic device of  claim 18 , wherein the state information associated with a distributed virtual switch or a distributed virtual port includes a runtime state and configuration settings for a communication link between a virtual machine and virtual switch. 
     
     
       24. The electronic device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more hosts are configured to use the transmitted state data to maintain a state of a VM connected to the DV Port or DV switch when the VM is migrated to a DV Port or DV Switch of one of the one or more hosts.